Double blessings

I knew the very first time I met her that we were supposed to be friends. I can hardly believe it was only three months ago. "Coincidence" after "coincidence" occurred to put us into the same place and at the same time, each time adding weight to the already weighty feeling that I was to be her Friend.

The first major one of those was when her daughter fell from a tree at a class picnic and she, six months pregnant and new to town, had to take her to the ER. She refused help but I followed her anyway (as I said, I knew I had to be a friend, even if it risked being called bossy).

Over the weeks we've talked and texted and visited, and then two weeks ago things got scary with her pregnancy and I thought she was going to have her babies then. While her husband was abroad. She forbade me from worrying, but again I felt like love had to win over polite and so I arrived at her house, fearing anger or ridicule, but still worried. She teased me, and then thanked me. "what am I going to do with you?" she said. "You are SO stubborn."

Fastforward to yesterday. Her husband had come home, and had just had to leave again... just for 10 days before the scheduled c-section. Within two hours of his departure, the doc called to say the lab results from her earlier appointment had come back and she had to come in immediately.

And so, with her husband on an outbound flight just hours before, she called me. Her bossy knew-she-had-to-be-her-friend friend.

I don't know I will ever understand why the timing of it was the way it was, or why I should have had the tremendous honor to be her 'person', but last night I had the incredible privilege of holding my new friends' hand as she welcomed her two little boys into the world. 34 weeks old, and just precious. I have loved and prayed for these boys from the time I first met her. I can't believe I got to meet them, welcome them, photograph them, touch them.

They are tiny, but stable.

My friend is brave and calm and courageous. Her boys are fighters. Her hubby is coming home as soon as he can. And I am speechless with wonder that somehow, from the first day, I just knew I was supposed to be her friend... for such a time as this....

Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord for these boys.
Thank you for the front row seat to a miracle.